By Ronnie Nathanielsz
International referee and boxing judge Teddy Alivio of the Philippines is under fire for his 114-114 scorecard that almost cost OPBF bantamweight champion Malcolm Tunacao his title last Sunday in Nagoya, Japan.
As a result of Alivio scoring the fight a draw, Tunacao merely eked out a split draw with Australian judge Ignatius Missailidis scoring it 115-114 for Tunacao and Japanese judge Yasuo Tomoto scoring it 115-113 for Tunacao’s opponent, countryman Kohei Ohba.
Even well-known Japanese boxing manager, matchmaker and journalist Joe Koizumi accused Alivio of "scoring the fight severely against Tunacao" even though the former WBC flyweight champion appeared to have dominated most of the rounds. Koizumi said “even the audience was greatly stunned at the unexpected draw since Tunacaoo obviously looked a winner.”
Both Tunacao and his respected Japanese manager, businessman-sportsman
Yasuo Matsuoka who is married to a charming Filipina Gina Matsuoka were furious over the decision, especially venting their ire on Aliivio. Well-known boxing manager and promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud said he felt Tunacao "dominated the fight and won at least nine rounds" and that he "couldnt understand" Alivio's scorecard.
Koizumi reported that the more experienced Tunacao “kept peppering the peek-a-boo styled challenger and penetrating his guard with sharp lefts to control the affair all night. Ohba remained too cautious and negative without throwing many punches.” He said Ohba let loose in the sixth and seventh round with shots to the mid-section of Tunacao but they were notr effective and didn’t hurt Tunacao. Koizumi said Tunacao who retained his OPBF belt against the previously undefeated Ohba who had a record of 13-0 with 8 knockouts while Tunacao entered the ring sporting a 19-1-2 record with 13 KO’s to his name.
Koizumi didn’t spare the Japanese judge saying “he better go to an eye doctor “ even as he branded it a”a shameful night for Japanese boxing.”
In the main event hard-punching Randy Suico who is managed by Koizumi easily retained his OPBF super featherweight title with a fourth round TKO over former world title challenger Ryuhei Sugita. Suico dropped the Japanese challenger with a vicious left hook in the second round but Sugita amazingly beat the count and fought back desperately.
Suico punished the challenger with solid lefts and rights in the third round and then mauled him to a standstill in the fourth when Sugita’s chief second and manager, former WBC junior featherweight champion Kiyoshi Hatanaka threw in the towel to halt the massacre. Koizumi reported that two teeth of Sugita were broken and the inside of his mouth badly cut by the left hooks of the lanky Suico who at one time was ranked No. 2 in the world by the WBC. Sugita announced his retirement after the bad beating. Suico improved to 24-2-1, with 22 knockouts.
